Significance of Durga Puja

During Durga Puja, God in the form of the Divine Mother is
worshiped in Her various forms as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Though the
Goddess is one, She is represented and worshiped in three different aspects.
On the first three nights of the festival, Durga is worshiped. On the
following three, Lakshmi and then Saraswati Devi on the last three nights.
The following tenth day is called Vijayadasami. Vijaya means "victory",
the victory over one's own minds that can come only when these three: Durga,
Lakshmi, and Saraswati are worshiped.

Meaning Of Durga
Durga is perhaps the most widely worshiped deity of Shakti. Maa Durga's
divine characterization include entire Devibhagavatham is dedicated to her.
Durga means one who is difficult to approach. However since she is the
mother of universe she is the personification of tender love, wealth, power,
beauty and all virtues.

Implications Of The Idol
The complete image of Goddess Durga represent destruction of evil and
protection of good and reflects the point that in order to become divine one
should keep one's animal instincts under control. Thus, by worshiping Durga
the idea of ruthless destruction is invoked to annihilate all the desires
and unfold divinity.

Its Connotation
ln Bengal, Goddess Durga is worshiped for nine days. In South India, an
altar decorated with a stepped platform and filled with small images of
gods, animals,birds,and other beings, animate and inanimate, is worshiped
for nine days. This altar is known as the Kolu. People re-dedicate
themselves to their profession. On this day, a child also begins to learn
the alphabet in a ceremony known as aksarabhyasa. This day marks the
beginning of any type of learning. One offers gifts to one's teachers, seeks
their blessings,and prays for success in one's new endeavors.